stroyed, and my angel wife seriously || ans, busy on board the tea-ships, the urged me to go to England, and leave a country where it was evident I should not be safe, while the present system continued. I long balanced between inclination and duty, and had at length resolved to comply with my wife's wishes, when all my hopes were blasted in one dreadful moment, and all my happiness on this side the grave destroyed. -ni The Americans were not satisfied with the concessions made by the government at home; the duties imposed by Parliament had all been repealed, except that upon tea, and it was resolved to oppose the admission of that article into the country, till that too was remitted. Several ships arrived at Boston loaded with tea, and when they arrived at the wharf, the populace, who dictated the law, refused to suffer the captains to land their cargoes, but insisted upon their being taken back without breaking bulk. The vessels, however, being brought to the wharf, could not depart without paying the government duties; and the governor, little anticipating the dreadful effects of popular rage, little thinking to what lengths the leaders of the people would urge their dupes, did not feel justified in granting his permits for the vessels to quit the harbour without the usual certificate from the custom-house. In this state things remained for a few days, neither party shewing a disposition to relax; when one night we were alarmed with a dreadful shouting and noise, like that made by the Indians when they attack an enemy's town. My house was situated near the custom-house, and commanded a full view of the quays and on looking out, I saw a large party, apparently of Indi cargoes of which we could plainly perceive them shooting into the sea. This part of their task was performed with a dispatch and precision, which clearly evinced that it was the fruit of much previous arrangement; and no sooner had the ruffians completed their object, than they advanc ed with noiseless tread towards my house. I alarmed my wife, who earnestly entreated me to fly: only one way presented itself to escape by the back door and reach the woods: but on looking out this way, I was driven back by a man in the disguise of a Mohawk Indian, and found that the house was surrounded. I now concluded that my destruction was determined on, and called to mind some obscure threats which had been thrown out, when, at a meeting of the inhabitants a few days previous, I had ventured to advise that conciliatory measures should be adopted. I had only time to place my wife and child in an apartment at the top of the house, where I hoped they would be secure, when the front door was burst open, and a number of ruffians rushed into the house: a party of them soon found the object of their search, and their success was announced by a loud shout. The house was cleared as quickly as it was entered, and I was hurried along by my merciless persecutors, not one of whom spoke a word, or uttered a single sound, after they had, by their horrid yell, announced my capture." The recollection of that moment was too strong for the excited feelings of this injured man, who was compelled to pause before he could continue his narrative, which highly interested his auditors. todada + A RAMBLER THERE occur at times in real life discoveries, adventures, and coincidences, which, if detailed by the pen of the novelist, would be laughed at as being too marvellous to be probable. ther. His wife, fortunately for her, had left this world before him. The produce of the sale of his effects barely procured decent mourning for his children, and a small pittance on which they might vegetate. The only consolation he had left them was, the consideration that he had brought them up as the children of a gentleman. Tue It was, however, the good luck of this family to fall into good hands: each of them was taken by some friend or other, who placed them in situations, not according to their has bits or dispositions, but such as they could procure for them. Thus one boy, a remarkably timid child, was sent to sea; another, who was par ticularly heavy in his person and character, was placed in the army; and Louisa, who had already formed an attachment of the tender kind, was sent out on a matrimonial specu lation to India. But the aim of their friends was to get rid of them, and these were thus got rid of: still there were two others to be provided for. Angelica, of a most une happy temper and disposition, was doomed to be toad-eater to an al derman's widow; and Walter, the eldest-but as he is the only personage that we have now to do with, we must leave the fate of the others unrecorded. Walter Jefferson was the son of a gentleman, who having, before he married, run through what is called a pretty property, determined to marry, in order that he might repair this chasm in his pecuniary resources. He did indeed marry, but the fortune which accompanied the lady he espoused was so small in comparison with his wants, that he found himself some years afterwards surrounded by a large family of children, who were maintained with difficulty, and at the expense of every luxury that he had been in the habit of enjoying, and which one by one disappeared as years added to the baldness of his head. He had long given up claret and champagne for port and sherry; and at length port and sherry of every vintage gave way to an après-diner diluent of a much more humble quality. He had long parted from a unique copy of Boccacio, and a small vase by Cellini had furnished cash to pay the dancing and Italian master. His rare coins too had fled: still he had a picture by, or said to be by, Rubens, a real sketch of Carravaggio's, and an undoubted Polemberg, and in possession of these he died, consoling himself that the sums these pictures would fetch might divert the maledictions of his children from denouncing his imprudence as a fa- " he was placed, and on the advan Walter Jefferson was altogether. one of those beings whom we do not frequently meet with in this world. At the age of fourteen he began to calculate on the situation in which tages or disadvantages of every plan he was about to adopt. He was never seen in a passion in all his life; and many who quizzed him for the apparent coldness of his heart were glad to avail themselves of the clearness of his head. He was a complete Joseph Surface or a Blifil, but it was only in appearance. It is true he was not “pleased with a feather, tickled with a straw," but he enjoyed all the happiness which an even temper of mind is known to confer; and however in maturer life he might suffer from the possession of what were satirized as mere negative virtués, he was in turns feared or esteemed, as he became the friend or the opposer of the actions of those about him. On the death of his father, he immediately became the managing clerk to the family, a situation of no mean responsibility, and from which he incurred much vituperative language, being determined not to give up one iota of his own advantage an advantage which he argued his relations might one day be glad to avail themselves of. But he did not, to speak technically, "wind up" this affair without bearing the stigma of a cold-blooded brother, who preferred his interest before that of any other person of his family. Whether this opinion was deserved solely by the hero of our tale, or whether his brothers and sisters were less selfish than he was, it is not our business to inquire; suffice it to say, they gave themselves as great credit for disinterestedness, as they did their brother for a contrary quality wapid and pay How Walter Jefferson had managed to struggle through every impediment till lie was called to the bar pasvis vil no bis 3 Julų sav ́S no one ever knew; but he did at length place his foot on the first step to independence nearly by his own exertions alone. He began at the beginning, but many doubtless were his misgivings, as a thousand obstacles must have opposed his wishes.b * We have seen him circuit after circuit attending the same court. Breathless and penniless, we have watched him as the hectic played o'er his face when the eye of some pushing lawyer seemed directed to him, and we have marked this hec tic subsiding quietly as he found out his fatal mistake. But no disap pointment, however sudden, could ruffle his temper: he was never des tected eagerly watching for a client; driving out of court, his silken robe distended with air, and his three tails beating like the treddles oftal lace-maker's cushion; driving out as if sent for express, and anon attempt↳ ing a quicker advance into court than all the javelin-men could procure for him, his pockets and hands loaded with feeless briefs. Nor in em ploy, when that employ did come, did he ever mouth it, as if the towncrier had spoken his words; he never assumed a passion which he did not feel, but, calm and collected, he would rebut with self possession every charge addressed against his client to "my lord and gentlemen of the jury." As chamber counsel ini deed some little practice fell to his share; but all this scarcely served to pay for the solitary chop on which he dined, or for the shoe-leather which! he wore out in trudging from court to court. He-but my limits Care already trespassed upon, and I leave the rest to a future Repository or by novbeler -ot a os sunconqad aud pabonujen a once cried out to his servant, PAINTER.› * + ° # ¢ ¥ ? r{ #CY° DUCIS, a French poet, who died a few years ago, was once present by invitation at a dinner given by Buonaparte when First Consul. On this occasion the latter made use of these expressions: "Our politics have as yet no system, because our last government had no will of its own. I FEDOR IWANOWITSCH, A CALMUCK will. soon restore order, and raise France to such an elevation, that she shall prescribe laws to all Europe. I will commence necessary wars merely to conquer a safe peace; I will give to the country a permanent constitution, protect religion, and make a provision for its ministers."-" And what then, general?" asked Ducis in a low tone.—“ Why then," rejoined Buonaparte, with some hesitation, "then, honest Ducis, if you are satisfied with me, appoint me to be a village justice." 2 A Calmuck, named Fedor Iwannwitsch, is accounted one of the best painters in Baden. He was sent, when about five or six years old, by the Empress Catherine Loto Amelia, Princess of Baden, widow of the hereditary Prince Charles Louis, and mother of the present Empress of Russia. To the liberality of that princess he owes his temporal prosperity. He was first put to a school in Carlsruhe, and afterwards into the Philanthropic Institution at Marsek Another time when the Consul linz. Though destined for the stu had invited Ducis to his table-dy of medicine, he soon displayed "Papa Ducis," said he, "how did a strong predilection for painting; you come hither? In some old fiacre and was therefore placed with M. I suppose?"—" Certainly, as usual." Mellit, painter to the court. Hav"Indeed a man of your age and ing acquired the requisite prelimitalents ought to have a better ve-nary knowledge of the art," he was hicle: let me furnish you with one." -"No, general," answered Ducis. "Look yonder at that flight of wild ducks. You are a sportsman, general, and no doubt know that there is not one of those birds but can smell powder, and is shy of a gun. I am a bird of that sort too." The conversation was suspended for the moment: but Buonaparte did not desist from urging his offer; and the friends and inmates of the same house with the poet so importuned him to accept it, that one evening he all at 1 sent for improvement to Rome, where he resided upwards of seven years, Here Lord Elgin engaged him to accompany him in a tour through Greece, and to make drawings of the most remarkable antiquities. When this tour was finished, be attended his lordship to England, and superintended the engraving of his designs. After spending three years in London he returned to Carlsruhe, and received from the Grand-Duke of Baden the appointment of painter ́ to the court. He is also a good en graver. Of his youth he recollects nothing more than that being one day at dinner under a tree, they were surprised by Cossacks; and that a woman, probably his mother, strove to defend him as much as possible from the robbers. He recollects also that this attack was made during their flight; whence it is conjectured that he belonged to the tribe of the Torgoutes, which removed from under the protection of Russia, and went over in 1770 to the Chinese. It is well known that during this that were lying on her table, and found among them. The Surprise of Love. "What sort of a play is that?" asked he." An excellent comedy," replied the actress: I only wish I knew the author. It is quite provoking that he has not made himself known: we should perform our parts ten times as well if he would but read the piece over to us." Marivaux requested permission to read a few passages. His correct accent and fine tact suddenly inspired his fair auditor with new ideas. flight a small portion of the Cal-"Sir," she exclaimed, " you indeed mueks were overtaken on a mountain by the Jaizk Cossacks, and mostly cut in pieces. The patronage of the empress, and the testimony of as Russian officer who was present at this affair, authorize the supposition that Fedor Iwanowitsch was the son of a Calmuck prince. On his arrival at St. Petersburg he was baptized, and received his present name. Nature seems rather to have destined him for a sculptor than a painter, as is evident from all his works. So much is certain, that his pencil is not guided by the Graces. MARIVAUX. enable me to discover absolutely new beauties in the piece. That is just the way in which I wanted to have it read: I felt how I ought to act, but could not find the modulation of voice to give adequate expression to my feelings. I thank you most sincerely for this lesson. But give me leave to add, you must be either the devil himself or the author of the play." Marivaux could not suppress a self-complacent smile, and remarked, that so much at least he could answer for, that he was not the devil. CURIOUS MISTAKE. It is only in a country where the In 1722, Marivaux surprised the despotic will of the sovereign passes public with his comedy called The for law that such a mistake as the Surprise of Love. Mademoiselle following could have occurred. SauSylvia, an actress of considerable ta- derland, banker to the court of Pelents, could not help feeling that her tersburg, had made the Empress part in this play was somewhat above Catherine II. a present of a dog of her reach, and required a higher a rare breed, for which she conceivrange of abilities than she gave her- || ed such a fondness, that he became self credit for possessing. Who, her particular favourite. This anithought she, can be the author of mal died, and that she might sooth this piece? for Marivaux had care- her sorrow at least with the sight of fully concealed his name. Just at the faithful creature, she sent for the this juncture a friend of the drama- director of the police, and ordered tist took him to see the lady. Ma-him to get Sauderland stuffed withrivaux turned over some pamphlets out delay. The director posted away |